Death toll from floods in Nepal and Tibet rises to 494

The death toll from the floods that hit Nepal and Tibet, in China, rose to 494 this Friday (28.Aug.2026). Rescue teams continue to search for more than 1,500 missing people after a flood of water, mud and debris hit communities in the Himalayan region on Wednesday (26 August).

Nepal Police reported that 489 bodies had been found as of noon on Friday, according to the The New York Times. In Tibet, the death toll rose to 5, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

In total, 1,535 people are missing on both sides of the border. Nepal’s disaster management authority counts 977 people missing in the country, while China keeps 558 people unaccounted for in Tibet, according to the agency. Associated Press. Hundreds are foreigners who were in the region to work, hike or make a pilgrimage to Mount Kailash, considered sacred by Hindus and Buddhists.

The balance released by the Nepal Police in the early hours of this Friday (Aug 28) still counted 469 bodies found. A later update added another 20 deaths. Of the 489 bodies recovered by noon, 393 had not yet been identified.

Search operations continue in areas covered in mud and debris. According to APteams pulled out mud-covered survivors while helicopters transported isolated residents to safe areas. More than 3,000 people were taken to safety in Nepal.

The floods destroyed homes, roads and bridges and disrupted movement in parts of the region. Images released after the tragedy show buried vehicles, buildings covered in mud and communities practically destroyed.

Nepalese authorities also remain on alert for the risk of further flooding. A lake formed by a landslide in the border region began to overflow this Friday (Aug. 28), which led to the temporary interruption of the search. Operations resumed after the risk subsided, according to the agency Reuters.

Watch (2min20s):

CAUSE OF THE FLOOD

The first information indicated that a 4.4 magnitude earthquake caused the landslide. The USGS (United States Geological Survey), however, corrected the assessment and reported that there was no earthquake. According to the agency, the detected seismic signal was produced by the collapse of ice and rocks from a glacier and the flow of debris.

A glacier collapse was cited as the cause of a torrent of rocks, ice, mud and debris that rushed down Himalayan rivers and hit villages and infrastructure along a route used by hikers. THE CNN analyzed satellite images showing the point where scientists believe part of a glacier broke away from the mountain.

Chinese authorities are also monitoring a dammed lake upriver, which could pose a risk of new flooding, especially given the forecast of rain, according to Reuters.

India, the United States, the European Union, Australia, Norway and international organizations announced aid to the affected regions. Itamaraty said on Wednesday (Aug. 26) that there was no record of Brazilians among the victims and said that the embassies in Kathmandu and Beijing are monitoring the situation.